Eurovision Fever Engulfs Tel Aviv

IDF Posts Video to Honor Families of the Fallen

Delegations from 41 European counties (also including Israel and Australia) participated in the opening ceremonies of the Eurovision song contest in Tel Aviv over the weekend, despite a vigorous effort by members of the campaign to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel, led by former Pink Floyd front man and fierce Israel critic Roger Waters. Waters has been pointedly ignored by several international celebrities who plan on participating in the contest and some, including Former Miss Iraq, Sarah Idan, have publicly criticized him and the BDS movement in general.

“An artist has power to inspire, tweeted Idan over the weekend. "Make sure you use your power for good and to bring people together. I never understood artists who boycott an entire country, you’re singing for people not for governments.”

Israel Blesses the World

Reports emerged this week that research conducted by Prof. Dan Aderka from Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer has shown promising results in the treatment of Colorectal Cancer. “We thought that applying one treatment was suitable for all patients," Aderka said. "If the right combination of drugs was applied, the patient's life expectancy would be extended.”

Israeli Physics Students Collect Medals at Competition

Israel’s team at the Asian Physics Olympiad collected gold, silver and bronze medals, along with a merit award, at the week-long event which wrapped up in Australia on Monday. Israel will be hosting the events next tournament next summer.

Iran’s Arab Neighbors Bracing for Conflict

Amidst heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf region, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih announced on Monday that two Saudi-flagged oil tankers sustained heavy damage from what he called a “sabotage attack” as they sailed in waters near the coast of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) Sunday evening. The announcement followed a similar statement by the UAE earlier in the day. In related news, late last week the US State Department announced its approval for the sale of 24 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment to Qatar in a deal valued at over $3 billion.

Ben Gurion Airport Set for Large Expansion

Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced over the weekend that it has approved plans to expand Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport, including roughly NIS 3 billion ($840 million) worth of new construction which would expand Terminal 3 by 80,000 square meters. The new facilities would include 90 new check-in counters, four new baggage hall conveyor belts and the expansion of the existing duty free space, immigration checkpoints and parking facilities.

"I have approved an investment plan worth NIS 3 billion for the Israel Airports Authority to be ready for the increase of up to 30 million passengers a year, and to be prepared for a later increase of up to 35 million passengers," Transportation Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12. “I have done this so that everyone will be able to fly from Ben-Gurion Airport and enjoy excellent standards.”